Voting-machine.



No. 857,469. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

P. KBIPEB.

VOTING MAOHINB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1899.

4 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

: PATENTBD JUNE 18, 1907.

F. KEIPER. VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION II'LBD JULY 19. 1m.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig-

No. 857,469. PATENTED mums, 190v.

F. KEIPER. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED J'U 19.18

I LY 99 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

: 132m I i I W R I I No. 857,469. PATENTED. JUNE 18, 1907. I F.KEIPE.R.

VOTING MACHINE. 'APPLICATION mun JULY 19, 1899.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W 11 1? T. \LHMM UNITED sTAr s PATENT oEEIoE.

FRANK KEIPER, or JAMEsTowN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AssIeN- MENTS,TOU. s. STANDARD VOTING MACHINE 00., or ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK;

VOTING-MACHINE.

nass'mee;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

.To all whom, it may concern: 1

Be' it known that I, FRANK KEIPER, a citizen of the United States,residing at J amestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements inVoting-Machines;

and 'I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention is principallylan improvementin interlocking mechanisms andrelates to that ty e of interlock such as is illustrated and descri edin the patent to'A, J i Gillespie, No. 628,792 and 628,905, in which theinterlocking wedgesare positively pulled into interlocking positionbetween the interlocking blocks, although it is obvious that the sameinvention might be applied equally well to a machine in which'the wedgeswere pushed in between the interlocking blocks.

,In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a cross section of the.machine containing my improved locking mechanism. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the interlocking mechan-- ism of a single office group. AFig. 3 is an enlarged view of the channel blocks, yokes and wedges of asingle oflice group. ,Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the yokes, wedgesand channel. blocks. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of two channel blockswith a pair of-the' wedges moved by the voting keys controlled bychannelblocks each. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the part of the votingkey .which moves the bell crank lever.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of a group of four single groups,

7 Figs- 8, 9 and 10 are detailviews of a mom-- fied form of block of aspecies different from Figs. 3, 4 and'5. Fig..1l is a View showing aresetting and locking device which acts on Fig. 12 is a rear view ofFig. 11. Fig. 13 is a detail view showing the connection between thestraps and bar. Fig. 14 is a modified form of the same. I

:Similar reference numerals in the different figures indicate similarparts.

in the machine einbodying the invention described in this ap lication,make use of any form of voting rey, and in the machine "used. herein. Iuse a voting: key tha'thas'a stud 7, which when the key is moved intovoted position, engages with the universal bar 8, which arrests itsfurther movement until the machine itself is operated. The bar 8 isconnected at the top to the crank mounted on the shaft 9, which crank isrocked by the operating lever (not shown) of the machine, when themachine is reset by means of the operating lever, or what other devicemay be used. The shaft 9 is rocked thereby, rocking the crank fastenedthereon, which in turn lifts and lowers the universal bar. As the bar 8moves upward, the lower side of the cam therein engages with the stud 7of the key, whichis left in voted position, and pulls it in to completethe-operation of the counter, and as the bar subsequently moves down,the upper cam surface ofthe universal bar engages the pin and ushes itout until the pin is entirely clear 0 the bar, when the bar is back toits locking position, in which position all of the keys have been pushedout and are positively held locked. This universal bar and its operatingmechanism are, however, not of my invention, and

it is not necessary to further illustrate it and ,its coordinate parts.

In each key there is cut a right angle slot 11,'best shown in Fig. 6,.and pivoted adjae cent to each key is a bell crank lever 10, one arm ofwhich level" extends down across the key and carries a'pin which engageswith the vertical slot in the voting key, as the key stands in theinitial position shown in Fi 1. When the key is pushed in, the bellcrank lever 10 rocks, and the pin rises in the vertical slot until itcomes opposite the horizontal portion of the slot 11. O11 the furthermotion of the key, whether by the voter or operated subse uently by theuniversal bar,

IOC

,pi'n on the bell crank lever, and; loo s thele+ The key is verw hrotation" a pin 7-first freelyj'moyted forward, until th gainst theuniversal bar, gin the position shown in Fig. 1 thekey is driven bythebar-it c vwa'rdfarther until the stud7 the [the bottom ofthe'camslots in bar, and the 'horiz shown in mitthis wit 0 of it is so shown actal arm of the bell eachcase to a met'al all different lengths row inwhichgtheke an move forreon reaches the universal ontal slot of the keyas 6' must be long enou u't interference, and t cordingly." ,Thehorizonerank levers 10 con strap, which straps are according to theisplaced, all 0 r s extending from the horizontal en h theyare-connected at which" may be connected isshown in 4, 01' to Wn inFigs. 9 and'IO. In, where the strap-is connected to yoke is in reality acontinuation p and carries the block mountedon the other case, as isshown the strap runs continuous ation'to the wedge to Whic onnected. As.is shown in e 13 consistsof a plate nshape and havmg'a gular slot cuttherein, n the bottom of inting upward is fastened a ell crank to whicone end, to the-yoke to its other end-, as he wedge as is She the firstcase, the yoke, the

, fi lo e 's in Figs. 8 and 9,

I and without devi it is directly 0 Figs. 3and 4, t

metal, rectangular of course, is small as compared, whales-gm and widthof the block'i- 'Th at the-block is thickest between-the interlockingsurfaces isshown clearly in Fig. 5, itfthere appearing thatlthe sideportions 14 do not quite come into contact. When 'two 'of'theseblocksfl'came together, they inclose oneach side of; the interlocking portiomofthe; block, a

square hole. through which can pass freely the yokes of one or two ofthe wedges" as is shown in Fig. 4, or the straps of onejorrtwo of thewedges. as is "shown in Figs. 7 and 10.

These square recesses are of, such liberal di mension as to greatlyexceed the thickness of two of the straps or yokes when their wedgesfare placed back to back in the positionindieated in Figs: 3 or 10, sothat neither the" stra s nor the yokes will tendto displace the blockthey are. crowded together. The strain of compression is confinedentirely to the smallcentral interlocking spaceidesignated by thereference character 17 in Fig. 4, or ,to the s nor hold them apartwhen'otherwise rectangular surfaces on either side ofthe re- 4 'cessesof the block as shown in Fig. 8. In; 90

consequence of this recess in the blocks, and

the nesting of the strap-tor yoke therein, any oderate'variation in thethickness'of the t een'the thickness of the wedge and the t ickness ofits strap',:or any moderate warp i g of the surfaces of ihe str p,onxany tiltinifing may be made in The wedge 15 is subwidth or. a triflenarangular slot in the yoke,-

' of the straps out o I -in Fig; 4

gs. 3 and 5, and These channel portion pointing-down, 11 Figs. 3 and! isthat in min-ally carried by they-are supported,- igs. l, 2, 3-,- 7, gq4,the wide e is intended e supporting our between v u ar slotsthat oclr"from top.;to botportion of the block at either s1 age with thegrqoves int els. The recesseswhich'o ns' of the blocks; are cut through the bl gapor any variation in the difference bep'e endicular,

not affectthe 'nterl c cks to displacel f l them to either a greater 1'a l; s extent than they properly' houl e, because as is readce them atall, y A an element in the train -11? seen the stap 0 th yoke does notdisp a of compression from one interlocking 1 block to the next, or fromthe interlocking blocks of one. single oflice line, to the interlockingblocks ofa subsequent .ofiice line the are eliminated, so. that-anyerror that mig t,be

in them, and which would affect the interlock, if they themselves weredirectly under compression, does, not; exist for the purpose ofdisturbing the accuracy of the interlock. This isan important feature ofmy invention, becauseotherwise these straps being under compressionwould to that, extent increase the number ofparts that must becompressed, and any errors as to variation in their thickness orwarping, of'their surfaces which would flatten out under compression,would to'that extent be repeated in the interlock tom, in which slotswill 1 o n in ig- 4, or

- he middle portion o marked by the reference numeral and-would afie'ctlts adcuracy-in consequence It will be further seen that by placing thethe thickest portion of the bloc k, and contalns'on its opposite sidesthe parallel. interwed'ges' back to back, as is shown inthe drawings,and making each interval serve for sur a e byh ch 1 135.3. interlockingblo' Theseinterlockin lel to each other, so th come into abutment, cont,c'onsecutive ones ks come into "abutg surfaces are'parals when. theblocks act will be made the straps or yokes of two interlocking 5 wedgesinstead of one, as would otherwise be the case, the number of blocksneeded in each oflice line after the first block is reduced to one-halfof the number that would be re- 65 o'ver' substantially thewltolesurface, which,-

quired if each strap passed'separately'between two blocks instead strapspass jointly between two blocks as in this case.

It will be seen that in anofiice line of eight,

' attempted to vote a second key in that office line. As the principalelasticity of comintermediate blocks are of compelled the interlockingblocks lying par-- 'pression occurs at. the joints between the piecesofnietal rather than in the pieces of metal themselves, it will thus beseen that reducing the number of joints correspondinglyincreasestherigidity of the interlock.

' The end block of each ofiice line is drilled for the spacing orgrouping pin, which pin passes through the channel and the block to holdthem rigid in relation to each other. The in-.

that they can be drilled for the spacing pin as well. It will also heobserved that the size of the square hole, compared to the thickness ofthe straps as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 10,. is

such-that the straps can pass through said holes at an an le to theperpendicular, and this variation iom the per endieular, even thoughcarried'to several. egrees, does not spread the blocks, but enables theblocks still to continue in abutment attheir interlockin surfaces, thuseliminating an error that would exist in case the straps or yokes tiltedand allel therewith to tilt as well. These straps d o -sometimes p assthrou h the channelat an angle to the perpendicuFar, especially when ina large group a large number of keys and their wedges are placedin'voted-position at one end of the group. In that case the wedges ofthe adjacent keys and the interlocking blocks are crowded toward theother end ofthe group, and. the straps are then bound to pass throughthe slots on a slant, but in so doing the room in the slot enables theblocks that are in a closed contact with each other to'remain' closedup, and the distance between the centers of those blocks are inconsequence not altered. Thus half of the blocks and all of theinterlocking straps are eliminated from compression in my interlock, andthe variable displacement of thestraps under all conditions is alsoeliminated because of my inventionwhere otherwise all the straps and anumber of blocks or spacers equal to them wouldbe under compression, andthe etraps would also disturb the accu racy of theinterlockdue to thedifferences in position that they may OccupyQand 'the probable variationin their thickness. It will also be seen that any of the movable blockscan contact directly/with eitheror both of the of having two I either"of the wedges of the two Wedges on either sideot it, or wit the samesize, so

.guide by a spring 55.

blocks on either side of it, or can contact with 6 5 i either wedge ofeach pair. Butowing to the slots or recesses in the. sides ofvthe'blo'cks, the blocks cannot at'any time directly compress theinterlocking straps;

By reason of these improvements thatconstitute the principal features ofmy invention,

the interlock is made safer against over yet ing even ina large group,even when great pairs of force is applied to an extra key to force it tovoted positlon, assuming that the propernumber have already been votedin that group. So, too, the flexibility of the intereach oflice line,and with substantially the same accuracy in their interlocking effect,or displacement. lt'will also'be seen, as shown in cross section inFigs. 1 and 11, that the yoke in that case and the wed e as shown inFig. 9 willsubstantially span t e opening between the two channels thatsupport the blocks, prevented from moving'horizontally from one side ofthe channel across to the other, but they can within certainlimits'movefreel verticallyin the channel or along the channel Theblocks, too, asis shown in Figs. 1 and 11, completely fill the space from the bottom ofthe'recess on one side of the channel to the bottom of the recess on theother side, which prevents them from moving across the straps or yokes.In conse uence' oftln's, the recesses of the blocks wii the straps oryokes, and the straps or yokes cannot move sidewise enough to be caughtbetween the interlocking surfaces of two consecutive blocks, but willalways nest in the recesses of the. blocks.

Inconnection with the straps 12 connect 'ing the keys 1 and interlockingwedges 15, I

may use a resetting bar 50 which passes through the stra s 12 eitherbetween the blocks 16 and the l ell cranks 12 or beyond the blocks 16and this resetting bar 50'may be moved in any suitable manner. tofo'rcethe wedges out from betweenthe blocks, takin' its motion from theuniversalbars 8. this length Y gaged with each stra gu de 54 at each end.For

of the machine being positively ran- ,and is supported in a pivoted in.the back of the machine, one;v at each end of it, in any suitableway,-and these levers extend over the resetting bar 50, and areconnected to the .two e'nd universalbars 8 and are rocked bytheir up anddown mo- .tlon, as the. nniyersahbiarsi move down the WeremQWWi h-l h mendeng g h reset:

and in consequence the wedges are 1 always be engaged by eing pressed upinfthis 'Two levers 51-, 51 are ock in a large group is increased inthat the "86 keys can be voted at either end of the group to the samenumber and with no greater difiiculty than they could be voted if votedone in purpose the resetting bar runs the whole ting bar and carry itwith them pushing out the'; wedges and holding the straps down;

anism consisting of interlocking blocks or spacers, suitably recessed orslotted, and

straps with wedges attached thereto, said straps working in or beingnested in the slotted portion of the interlocking blocks.

2. In avotin machine, the combination of interlocking looks or spacers,provided with slots, said blocks having portions abut tin against each"other, and straps with we ges attached thereto working in the slots insaid blocks.

3. In a voting machine, interlocking straps arranged in pairs, eachinterlocking strap having an interlocking wedge attached thereto, one ofsaid wedges being beveled to the right and the other to the left, thewed es being mounted back to back withthe e ges of the beveled part ofsaid wedges lying nor mally side by side.

4. In a voting] machine, interlocking Wedges arranged in airs, eachwedge having a beveled edge, sai wedges of each pair be-'' ing placedback to back .With the edge of 'each' wedge normally injuxta-positionWith theiedge of its mate. '5. Interlocking blocks orspacers having lnterlockingsurface being reduced in width by a recesscut entirely across each of the said interlocking surfaces.

' 6'. In a voting machine, an..interlocking block or s acerhavingparallel interlocking sides, said block having one side thereofdoubly beveled and having its sides provided with recesses,

7. An interlocking block or spacer having "parallel interlockingsurfaces on opposite sides of said block, the interlocking surface oneach side of the block being bisected and reduced in width by a recessextending across said side.

8. A -wedge shaped interlocking'block or spacer, having parallelinterlocking surfaces on opposite sides of said-block, each of saidinterlocking surfaces being bisected and reduced. in width by a recessextending across said -side.

9. An interlocking wedge with a strap con nected theretmsaid wedge andstrap having broad parallel surfaces,the broad surfaces of the one lyingparallel to the broad surfaces of the other, and extending in the samedi'rec tion, the broad surfaces of the wedge being broader than thecorresponding surfaces of the strap at the place of connection, thesurfacesiof the wedge inexcess .of the width of looking bloc i withtheirinterlocking surfaces indirect abutthe strap only being adapted to'interlocking contact.

10. In a voting machine, the combination of a channel, interlockinblocks or spacers carried therein and inter ocking straps provided withwedges broader than the straps, which wedges interlock with the blockswith.

i only that portion of the wedges that is in ex 'cess of the width ofthe strap.

11. A fiat interlocking wedge having a flat strap connected centrallythereto, said wedge being wider than thestrap at the place ofconnection, the interlocking portion of the wedge being confined to thepart of the wedge in eircess of the width of the strap, which part ofthe wedge is not intersected by the strap nor placed in line with it.

' 12. Ina "voting machine, the combination of channels, abutments insaid channels, movable interlocking blocks or spacers between saidabutments, and interlocking rods pro. vided, with wedges adapted toengage said blocks, said interlocking rods being more than twlce asnumerous as the movable interlocking blocks, whereby each of saidi interlocking blocks serves to iiiterlock with one wedge of *either or'each of the two adjacent pairs of 13. In a voting machine,tlielcombination of a channehmovable interlocking blocks or spacers insaid channel, and paired wedges placed backto back betweenriaidinterlock- 1 111g blocks ,a separate air after each consecutiveblock, whereby t e number ofmovable parallel interlocking surfaces, eachexposed interlocking blocks required is less than onehalf the number ofinterlocking Iwedges.

14. A flat interlockin wedge having a flat strap connected centra 1ythereto and substantiall at the line of the acute angle of the wedge, te art of said wedgeeilective for interlocking ein' carried out of linewith and" at the side or si' es of thestrap.

15. The combination in the. limiting mechanism of'a'vo'ting machine, oftwo interlock- 1 ing blocks or spacers placed with their inter- Elocking surfaces normally in direct abutment, two wedges placedtog'etherand having a longitudinal movement l positively directed toward andpositively confined to the interval between said blofeksfor the purposeof spreading the blocks, said blocks and wedges havin a limited lateralmovement greater than tie displacement of 'thewedges.

16. Thecombination in a voting machine of a limitin lm'echanism'comprising interis or spacers normally placed merit, a, wedge forseparating said blocks and arecess through said blocks through which apull can be exerted on said wedge to force it r25 etween said blocks tospread them. '17; A series of separable interlocking 5 fsaid'blocks'capable of being inserted between inw iofterval; betweensaid blocks.

:18; series "of'-"separable interlockingmovable wit ing. interlockingsurfaces, the'ad'acent interlockinlg surfaces of; consecutive locks beinca ab e oi directly contacting with eac er, a separate pair ofinterlocking wedges 1 ositloned ateach interval between said locks forinterlocking with and spreading apart the pair of blocks at thatinterval, either or both of said wedges being, movable 1rdv o'utofinterlocked position in the inblocks or spacers," arrangedconsecutively,

respect to each other and capable 0f directabutment, having interlockingin apartthe. paireof blocksat that interval, 1 -e1t er or 'bothof said,Wedges being movable 2o surfaces, .a separate pair of interlockingWedgespositioned at each interval between said blocks forinterlockingwith and spreadinto and out of'interlocked position in the intervalbetween said blocks. I 19. Apairof-interlocking blocks or spacershavinginterlocking surfaces, the interlocking surfaces of'said blocksbein normally in dig 20., The combination;inavoting Inachine place I Isurfaces normallyin contact, apair ofvwedges placed normally in positionforgone or bothof rect abutment, a wedge for Interlocking with saidblocks to spread them, said .wed e having a'projection extending fromits orward edge, which pro'ection .extends normally between" said; blocs when their interlocking surfaces ar'e-in-contact.

pair of interlockinglblocks or spacers consecutively wit theirinterlocking saidv wedges to! be inserted between said blocks, said wedes-bei'fhgpo'sitivelylimited "to in's'ert'ion joint y.orfseverallylbetween said predetermined"pairgof consecutive blocks,-

l 21; The'combinationina voting machine,

of a single candidate group of voting. keys,- veachkey'be'ing providedwith a wedge, fixedv and movable means interlocking with said half thenumber of the wedges with' which wedges, said. movable'meansbe'ing lessthan they interlock. v 1

p n' -machine, a pair of'1nov-. ableinterlocking looks or spacersnor'rnally 22; In a voti in interlocking co'nta'ct',';a pair ofinterlockin wedges nor-mall capable of, being inseite hetweenjsaidb ocksto s acelthem apart, I

keyseonnecte'd 'to" said we ges fortoperating them;

7. t or spacers norn {ally in. abutment, a pairof interlocking wedgesnormally capable of, be-:'

in'ginset-tee between-1 said blocks, to space; tl-iein. apart, saidxvetlges each .bei beveled I on one side only and being arrangeba'ckflto f-'back. Y 24 A' s'eries of wedges. placed back to backinpairs, a series cf'separableblock's movable with respectitoeachrother,a separate pair of spread :theml [23, f 'inovable interlocking blocks]wedges for each interval between the blocks,

and positively limited to operating therein to} spreadthe-blocks. v

25. Interlocking blocks or spacers nor.- mallyin abutment with recessesbetween them, straps passing between said blocks or spacers and throughsaid recesses, said straps I being so adjusted-to said blocks orspacers, that said straps can-pass betweenthem either perpendicularly ordiagonally thereto, without changing the distance hetweencenters of outof abutment.

26. In an interlocking mechanism, interlocking straps having wedgesconnectedthereto', said wedges being 'wider'than the locking with saidwedges,said spacers havin recesses in their interlocking sides, wide andee enough to permit the straps to lie therein elow their interlockingsurface but not wide enough to admit thewedges'therein. 27 Aninterlocking block or s acer having two thick ends, carrying intercoking 'sur-' faces, connected by. an intermediate part,

which part is of reduced thickness to avoid interlockingcontact'thereon.

28. The combination'in the limitin' niech- I anis'ni of avoting-machine, of channe blocks in direct abutment, with twowedgesplaced back to back-inposition for one or'both of them-to be insertedbetween said blocks to spacers casableuof directlabutment, keys,

straps,,- an interlocking wedges co-op'eratln therewith, said strapspassing between'sai 'spac'ers'in direct abutment connecting saidinterlocking wedges lgingon oneside of said blocksor spacerswit 31. Aseries of. ntcrloc ing blocks or ullcd to voted positiol g'searating-said ocks or s acers and meansor niding said wedges to tiiejoints between the. locks or spacers." 32, The; combination of aninterlocking block,, .-;an'interlocking, strapand an inter lockingwedge, said: block bein" recessed to cje v 'vth str eitherside; of.said:

. therein "and: having k 00 recessflfrictional inter ingsuri'acesn 1:33;In a mechanism; consistingOfiinterlockirig blocks orjspacers," suitablyrecessedjor slotted, and.

strapslwi th. wedges. attached thereto, each wedge being broaden-thanits strap, said straps ,being more narrow than the recesses said keyslying on the I other side of said blocks-or s acers.-

IIO

spacers capablelof directly-contacting with t 3 each-other, wedgescapable of bein machine, interlocking,

said blocks or spacers or without forcing them so I straps, interlockingblocks or spacers'int-er- Y of the blocks and being normally nested andeperatingvtherein, the wedges beingtoo wide to enter the recessesand 0erati'ng outside thereof when moved to inter coking position.

34, A111 interloekingbloek or spaeelg-a eupporting channel therefor,seidbloekbr epacer made of a part of one thickness joining two .papts ofgreater thickpesgfleach of which thicker parts having mterlpekingsurfaces

